4th and 6, you gotta go for the 1st

JD_KaPow

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Not wrong, but I think MM would have been roasted more if they didn't make it. Then again, would have been SUPER roasted if Zurlein missed he kick.
Right. That's why I want a coach who doesn't let the media make his decisions.
Every coach in the NFL kicks that FG.
And they do it because winning the game isn't their main incentive: keeping their job is. And they'll never lose their job for making the by-the-book call.

It wasn't really that decision that was so egregiously bad. It was the FG they kicked on 4th-and-goal from the 3 early in the 3rd. That was an awful decision and probably the one that lost the game.
 

Aerolithe_Lion

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The only big mistake I think McCarthy made was the 60 yard attempt with a kicker who was struggling. That could have been returned (if short) against a bunch of O-lineman who aren’t catching him
 

Jake

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Sorry. We said it at the time (I say "we" because so many of us said it). 4th and 6th, 1:42 left, you HAVE to try for the first down instead of kicking a FG. Some of you will counter with, "well, that's what the defense is paid to do, make a stop late in the game, with a lead." Sure. That works against Tom Brady as much as it did against Aaron Rodgers a few years back in the playoffs.

A first down there should have put the Cowboys in better FG range while bleeding the clock. Sometimes you've gotta make that unconventional call, especially when going up against the GOAT. Had they not made the first down? Not mad...how could we be? We knew Brady would bring them back anyway.

Brady still had time to get a TD, assuming your 4th and 6 call actually works. He was throwing the ball away to kill clock in the end.
 

CowboyinMD

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Brady still had time to get a TD, assuming your 4th and 6 call actually works. He was throwing the ball away to kill clock in the end.

Yes, but a fresh set of downs would kill the clock even more. TB had what, one TO left with 1:42 left? Maybe none??
 

Sevenup3000

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Not wrong, but I think MM would have been roasted more if they didn't make it. Then again, would have been SUPER roasted if Zurlein missed the kick.

It is a tough call...but MM did have 3 TOs...I don't know...I think MM made the right decision.
 

BrassCowboy

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Wow if we wouldn't of made the first, game would of been over right there.
Sorry, but even you yourself answered your own post because you knew the fg was the right answer so by tampering the obvious replies you might justify doing something that would give us no chance if we didn't make the first.
Defense had the whole field to stop stop Tampa, they couldn't do it so we lost. No biggie, we move on with a lot to look up to.
 

TheHerd

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Agreed totally. I said it before we kicked it, and after he made it. Our odds of winning after the FG were about 1 in 20
 

NumOneQB

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Even if Zuerlien had missed every kick, you still trot him out and kick the FG there to attempt to take the lead. We’re not playing Madden here, people.
 

TheHerd

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Wow if we wouldn't of made the first, game would of been over right there.
Sorry, but even you yourself answered your own post because you knew the fg was the right answer so by tampering the obvious replies you might justify doing something that would give us no chance if we didn't make the first.
Defense had the whole field to stop stop Tampa, they couldn't do it so we lost. No biggie, we move on with a lot to look up to.
After e we made the FG we lost the game. There was close to 0% chance we stop Brady with a minute and a half left. He’s been winning games like that for 20 years against defenses far superior to ours.
 

ZekeTrain

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Mr Analytics did not trust the numbers and chickened out. Brady wins that game 99 out of 100 times. Too much time only needing a FG.

Go with your best chance. Your QB on 4th down. Defense was never going to hold.
 

Word Mofo

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If Diggs turned that ball he tipped into an interception it would’ve been the right call
 

TheHerd

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Even if Zuerlien had missed every kick, you still trot him out and kick the FG there to attempt to take the lead. We’re not playing Madden here, people.
No but you’re playing the best ever comeback QB against a laughable defense. I had absolutely no doubt we lost the game when our kick went through. It might be the “smart”’ by the book call, but it’s a losing call.
 

buybuydandavis

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Sorry. We said it at the time (I say "we" because so many of us said it). 4th and 6th, 1:42 left, you HAVE to try for the first down instead of kicking a FG. Some of you will counter with, "well, that's what the defense is paid to do, make a stop late in the game, with a lead." Sure. That works against Tom Brady as much as it did against Aaron Rodgers a few years back in the playoffs.

A first down there should have put the Cowboys in better FG range while bleeding the clock. Sometimes you've gotta make that unconventional call, especially when going up against the GOAT. Had they not made the first down? Not mad...how could we be? We knew Brady would bring them back anyway.

I'm fine with the 4th down call. It's for the lead with under 2 minutes left. 4th and 6 is no gimme, and if we don't make it, the game is over.

But wasn't the 3rd down call basically a give up? On a night when the kicker missed a FG and extra point, and was just squeezing other kicks in?

Needed to be more aggressive on 3rd down. At least *pretend* to try to make a first down.
 

CowboyinMD

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Wow if we wouldn't of made the first, game would of been over right there.
Sorry, but even you yourself answered your own post because you knew the fg was the right answer so by tampering the obvious replies you might justify doing something that would give us no chance if we didn't make the first.
Defense had the whole field to stop stop Tampa, they couldn't do it so we lost. No biggie, we move on with a lot to look up to.

Who here was confident with the win after Dallas went up 29-28? If just one of you honestly say yes, then I'll shut up and admit y'all are right, let's "play for the FG" against the GOAT on his turf with over 1:40 left in the game.

There's a difference btw in playing for the FG with less than 20 seconds left vs. 1:42. Sorry, I would have given 4th and 6 some consideration. They were not stopping Lamb or Coop all game long.
 

CowboyinMD

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I'm fine with the 4th down call. It's for the lead with under 2 minutes left. 4th and 6 is no gimme, and if we don't make it, the game is over.

But wasn't the 3rd down call basically a give up? On a night when the kicker missed a FG and extra point, and was just squeezing other kicks in?

Needed to be more aggressive on 3rd down. At least *pretend* to try to make a first down.

Great point. Wasn't that a sideline pass to Zeke? And he went OOB?
 

Jarntt

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No way you go for it there. If the kick was a little longer I'd agree with you but that would have been a horrible decision to go for it. My only concern was that he sucked tonight but you still try it and play the odds
 
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